Upright-piano-forte action



(No Model.)

B. Q. NORTON.

UPRIGHT' PIANO FORTE ACTION.

No. 375,327. Patented Dec. 20,1887.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlVA'RD Q. NORTON, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ZADEK 8t NORTONPIANO-FORTE AND ORGAN COMPANY, OF ALABAMA.

UPRlGHT-PlANO-FORTE ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,327, dated December20, 1887.

(No model.)

To a ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Q. NORTON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the port of Mobile, county of Mobile, and State of 5Alabama, have invented a new and useful Iniprovement in Actions forUpright Piano- Fortes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the action of uprightpiano-fortes, in which a lifter, A, raises the whole action of the pianoand disconnects it from the keys, at the same time substitutingthepressure of a spring upon each key for that of the weight of theaction; and the objects of my improvements are to enable the keys to beused without making any sound, and also to relieve the action of allwear and consequent deterioration while the piano-forte is used forfive-finger" exercises and other exercises requiring the repetition of alimited number of notes; also to enable more than one person to practiceupon one pianoforte at the same time without producing interferingtones. mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a rear view of the lifter-frame. 'Fig. 2 is'a front view ofthe same swung open. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of anupright-pianoforte action with lifter attached, showing mode ofoperation of the lifter. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the samepiano-forte, showing the lifter as attached to the action of thepianoforte.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

G G is a frame, made of wood or other suitable material, sufiicientlystrong to raise and support all the rockers and connected action of anupright piano-forte.

I is the handle by which the lifter-frame G G is drawn out or pressedback into position.

A is a flangerail, to which is screwed flange B, and in which rockerworks on pivot-pin 4 5 D when rocker O is raised by sticker E beinglifted by key F.

I attain these objects by the.

In Fig. 3, G G is an end view of lifter-frame resting in stationarysockets H H, drawn forward by handle I, and the dotted lines indicatelifter frame when pressed in so as to assume a perpendicular position.

J is one ofaseries of curved or spiral springs attached to the rear ofthe base of the lifterframe, one to correspond with each key. Eachspring is made with a resisting force equal to 5 5 that of the action ofits corresponding hammer. Each spring is inserted into the base of thelifter-frame at such point and at such angle that when the lifter-frameis swung open and the action is in its normal position the spring J israised beyond the reach of the key F when the same is struck; but whenthe frame is pushed in and the action is disconnected from the key thespring is thrown forward and downward upon the key F, and resistsanypressure upon the key with the same force that is exercised by theaction E when in its normal position.

The action of lifter-frame G G is as follows: \Vhen pressed in from theangular to the straight or perpendicular position, the height oflifter-frame G G is increased and raises the whole action of the piano,including sticker E, by raising rockers O. Sticker E is disconnectedfrom the key F, and the spring J, resting upon the key F, causes thekcyto respond to the touch of the fingers in playing; but there being nocontact between sticker E and key F, all that part of the action abovekey F is not operated.

I claim Thecombination, with apianoaction, of the oscillatinglifter-frame composed of the hinged parts G G, supported in sockets H H,and the springs J, all constructed and arranged to operate substantiallyas set forth.

Q. NORTON.

\Vitnesses:

JNo. S. HOLMES, P. E. GODEFREY.

